Driving Rules & Fines
Driving rules news: Highway Code changes, speeding and parking fines, penalty points, driving licence and MOT rules, clean air zones and low emission zones, and motoring offences in the courts. Desk editor: Alex Ivy (AiMotoring).
Blue Badge parking: 12 no-go places and how the rules work
A Blue Badge does not let holders park anywhere. This guide covers the 12 places that are off limits, what the £1,000 fine actually applies to, and the clock and expiry rules.
UK motorway driving fines: £100 and 3 points for speeding
Speeding carries a minimum £100 fine and 3 points, and a court can fine up to £2,500 on a motorway. Here is how motorway mistakes become penalties.
DVLA over-70s mandatory eyesight test: what was proposed
Reports of DVLA over-70s mandatory test rules rest on a Department for Transport consultation on eyesight checks at licence renewal that closed in May 2026. It was a proposal, not law, and not a driving test.
UK tyre safety 20p test: how to avoid a £2,500 fine
A 20p coin can show whether your tread is nearing the 1.6mm legal limit. Here is what illegal tyres can cost, how the MOT fits in, and how to check in under a minute.
Clocks go back 25 October: darker drives and what UK drivers need to know
The clocks go back one hour on Sunday 25 October, bringing darker evening drives. No new driving law takes effect that day, but safety checks matter now.
New driving rules: Northern Ireland Graduated Driver Licensing starts 1 October 2026
Graduated Driver Licensing starts in Northern Ireland on 1 October 2026, with a six-month minimum learning period and a two-year R-plate period. Great Britain has no confirmed changes; the Department for Transport is still consulting.
Unfit to drive endorsements surge to 669 in 2025, DVLA data shows
DVLA figures show endorsements for medical unfitness to drive rose from 198 in 2022 to 669 in 2025, with most cases involving driving after licence revocation. These unfit to drive UK statistics do not cover drink or drug cases.
Speed camera alert apps: what an Australian Waze study found
Waze warnings make drivers ease off, but only while the alert lasts, an Australian study found. It did not test UK police, so the questions about UK fines remain open.
DVLA over-70 drivers: three-year licence renewal reminder explained
The DVLA has reminded drivers aged 70 and over of their requirement to renew their licence every three years. Here is what the renewal involves and what to do.
DVLA driving licence changes 2026: DWP debt bans now in force
Courts can now ban people who owe the DWP £1,000 or more from driving. Here is who is affected and how renewal works, alongside other driving licence updates 2026 has brought.
Headington West parking changes: have your say by 30 October
Oxfordshire County Council is consulting on controlled parking zone (CPZ) changes in Headington West as part of a two-year review. Residents can respond until 5pm on Friday 30 October 2026.
Most stolen cars UK, Jan to Jun 2026: Nissan Juke Tekna leads on 197
The Nissan Juke Tekna CVT topped the top 20 most stolen cars for January to June 2026 with 197 thefts, according to Tempcover's analysis of DVLA data.
About our Driving Rules & Fines coverage
We report from DVLA, DVSA, Department for Transport and council sources, and we explain exactly which drivers and which areas each change applies to.